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The Telegraph

Games in Meghalaya

Shillong: Meghalaya on Wednesday signed the host city contract for hosting the 39th National Games in 2022, the year when the hill state will celebrate 50 years of statehood.

Meghalaya will be the third state in the Northeast to host the Games after Manipur and Assam that hosted it in 1999 and 2007 respectively.

The host city contract was signed at Yojana Bhavan main secretariat by Meghalaya additional chief secretary P.W. Ingty on behalf of the Meghalaya government, working president of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association John F. Kharshiing and secretary general of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Rajeev Mehta. Meghalaya urban affairs minister Ronnie V. Lyngdoh and other dignitaries were also present.

The contract covers aspects like organising the Games to specific timeline for creating of required infrastructure by 2021. Lyngdoh expressed happiness as Meghalaya would host the Games when the state celebrates its golden jubilee and hoped that the Games would provide a larger platform for sportspersons to showcase their talents.

Mehta termed the contract signing a golden day for Meghalaya and assured all support from the IOA. "It is a wonderful opportunity for the Northeast to showcase the talents and we hope we will host the best ever National Games in Meghalaya in 2022," Mehta said.

"Meghalaya requires a lot of infrastructure and all projects should get ready by 2021. Under the contract, work has to be completed within a fixed timeline and a penalty of Rs 2 crore per year will be imposed for delays," he said. The bidding amount for the Games was pegged at Rs 5 crore, for which a bank draft of Rs 50 lakh was submitted earlier.